Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale - Buffalo Bill's Brewery

BJA

California

2.5/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

12oz bottle poured into perfect pint glass

A: I got ¼ inch of fizzy head on a hard pour. The head disappeared within 45 seconds. Some large carbonation bubbles sticking to the size of the glass. The beer is a crisp pumpkin orange color. It appears slightly watery when looking down on it, but that’s probably because there is absolutely no head retained on the beer.

S: I get a sweet pumpkin scent with sugary bubble gum notes. I find it very candy like.

T: The taste is somewhat syrupy with a hint of pumpkin. It comes across to me as a manufactured flavor. It is not a strong taste.

M: This is a thin, fizzy, watery beer.

O: I’m not a fan. It tastes fake (too much like manufactured candy flavor) and is too watery and fizzy for me.

The aroma has potential if that artificiality wasn't there.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2011 04:50:26 | More by BJA

ONUMello

Ohio

2.7/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass
A: Hazy pumpkin orange; 1+ finger head.
S: Dried apricot, a hint of pumpkin, a hint of spices
T: Again a bit of pumpkin & spice, but tastes somewhat artificial.
M: Light, nothing stands out good or bad.
O: Being the original doesn't mean it's the best.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2011 22:24:00 | More by ONUMello

soulfly1492

Pennsylvania

3.18/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Flavor: Bready, orange citrus, pumpkin, a bit of alcohol.

Appearance: Tall fizzy head with large bubbles, a bit too much like soda. No lacing, head lasts about 60 seconds, then not a trace can be found. That's a first! Oh well, smells good though. Pale gold, a bit cloudy. No residue left at the bottom of the bottle after the pour.

Flavor: Sweet malts, citrus, cinnamon and pumpkin. Aftertaste isn't bad, mild citrus, slightly bitter veggie.

Mouthfeel: Light body. Not much carbonation left after the pour.

Overall: I don't know how to say this... this wasn't much of a beer. Easy drinking, but nothing to savor. Just needs to be more bold all around.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2011 23:22:08 | More by soulfly1492

humuluslupulus8

Arizona

2.15/5  rDev -26.1%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

A: The beer was a pumpkin orange color with an almost white head. The head contained large bubbles that dissipated rather quickly.

S: The aroma consisted of canned pumpkin pie filling and bubblegum. In other words, it smelled pretty artificial, which I don't like. There was also the faintest mention of piney hops.

T: The taste was similar to the smell- artificial pumpkin flavor. I could detect the alcohol slightly. As a whole, the different flavor components didn't blend too well together; they just existed along side each other.

M: The mouthfeel was medium-thin, which is about what I expected for a pumpkin ale.

O: Overall, the beer was drinkable but not crafted very well. If the pumpkin and spice flavors were a little more natural tasting and the flavors all cooperated with each other, this would be a good pumpkin beer. This was a decent first pumpkin beer for me, but I probably won't buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2011 07:04:47 | More by humuluslupulus8

gopens44

Virginia

2.98/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A - Hazy orange with a foamy white head that ran off pretty quick.

S - On the "more pumpkin" than spice aroma end of the pumpkin beer scale with just a dash of hop presence towards the back of the inhalation of this.

T - I was a touch confused by a bubble gum flavor that hits just before a watery clove taste.

M - Thin, watery and highly carbonated.

O - Not gonna be a seasonal favorite of mine. Seemed like a bit of a mess that ultimately lacked flavor and character.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2011 17:25:18 | More by gopens44

nsmartell

Wisconsin

3.2/5  rDev +10%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I enjoyed this beer from the comfort of my own living room. From the 12oz bottle to a standard pint glass.

Appearance: Pours orange in color with a thick white head that disappeared by the time I turned around from tossing out the bottle.

Smell: Nice aroma right out of the gate. Spices and pumpkin smell dominate with a hint of earthy malts.

Taste: As the smell hinted at this beer tastes of spices and pumpkin. However, the aroma was better than the taste as this is too sweet and watered down for my liking.

Mouth: Very light bodied and bodied and with lots of carbonation.

Drinkability: Too watered down for my liking. Nice aroma, but not much else.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2011 13:02:02 | More by nsmartell

claspada

New Jersey

2.93/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Pours a light to medium orange amber color with a soft white fluffy head that quickly dissipates to near nothing and leaves minimal lace.

Aromas begin with light freshly baked pumpkin pie smells; allspice, baked pumpkin flesh and some more undiscernable spices are also present.

The flavors begin with light bready malts and pumpkin pie spices. Flavors aren't too exciting and become just sweet like a carbonated pumpkin juice. The flavor profile just isn't too tasty overall and doesn't merit taking another sip except to finish the bottle and move on.

The mouthfeel is light with spritzy carbonation borderlines being on watery.

Overall this is a forgettable Pumpkin ale in a market that is saturated with much better examples, both sessionable and Imperial varieties. Elysian makes the best sessionable example if you ask me and Weyerbacher and Williamsburg makes great Imperial versions. Look elsewhere for your Gourd fix this season.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2011 18:49:02 | More by claspada

Lemke10

Wisconsin

3.13/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I bought a 6pack of this from Woodman's in Janesville, WI for $7.99 in Fall 2011.

Pours a cloudy copper orange color with a light fluffy head that disappears quickly. Scent is heavy in pumkin, nuttmeg, clove spice, and a little bananna. Taste is smooth and clean. You can definetly pick out the pumpkin taste and a little of the spice but that's about it. I was really hoping for more spice flavor that basically reminds me of a pumpkin pie. Something seasonal to get you into the festive fall mood but that's about it.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2011 04:01:06 | More by Lemke10

xuptygm

Nebraska

2.93/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Super fizzy head, exactly like a can on soda fades quickly leaving no lace. Hazy orange in color with a few bubbles rising to the surface. What do ya know?... it smells like pumpkin and spices (clove, cinnamon). Light bodied tasting slightly of pumpkin and more of spice with a bit of watered down malt flavor. A crisp dry finish.

Overall a pretty average pumpkin ale. I guess you could call it a session beer, but I wouldn't really want more than 2 or 3 of these. I would have liked a fuller taste profile with more pumpkin flavor. Making things worse...these are twist offs making them unusable for my homebrew... so I knocked off a few points for that. Theres your beer karma for ya Buffalo Bill.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2011 23:40:25 | More by xuptygm

theotherone87

Pennsylvania

2.63/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Grabbed a bottle of this stuff the other nite from world wide beverage in roxborough pa,

a- The appearence is the a typical hazelnut brown with a a little white head

s- the smell was ok,smelled of some kind of spices i couldnt exactly pin point tho what they were, kinda of a roasty smell

t- I was excited to try, as I have heard this was the first pumpking beer ever, I could taste the pumpkin,but my taste buds were not overally satisfied,

m-the body was a medium built kinda of leaning towards lighter side

o- the beer was alright..I like pumpkin beers and wanted to tryit, I would not buy a case of it tho

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2011 13:59:16 | More by theotherone87

match1112

Illinois

2.68/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

a: amberish orange with a thin fizzy off white head.

s: all spice, nutmeg, cinnamon and bad pumpkin.

t: sweet malts, too much of the spices mentioned before and some bready malts.

m: thin and watery. burns from all the spice.

o: one of the worst pumpkin beers out there, unless you love spices in large amounts. not worth seeking out. my tongue and back of my throat are still burning ten minutes after finishing this beer. glad my brother paid for this six pack.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2011 23:35:06 | More by match1112

womencantsail

California

2.28/5  rDev -21.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

The infamous Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale...how exciting.

A: The beer pours a rather pale orange/amber color with a short live off-white head.

S: Tart apple cider mixed with garbage and some pie spices. A pretty good summary of the aromas on this beer. Quite watery with a touch of straw, maybe some lemons.

T: Flavor is better, but not good. Some bread and malt sweetness with a little spice flavor. There's also a strong tea and bad apple cider flavor.

M: Very light, watery, with medium carbonation.

O: Not nearly as awful as I feared, but not good.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2011 04:06:47 | More by womencantsail

shangwang

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured with very little head, and what little there was disappeared quickly. Copper color, very clear. Smelled of soil with traces of spice and tea leaves. Tasted slightly malty with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg - I guess a little pumpkin somewhere in there as well. Almost tasted more like chai tea then pumpkin ale. Very crisp mouthfeel - lots of carbonation. Finishes smooth and clean, but nothing really stands out about the taste. Overall, not a bad beer, but nothing I would go out of my way to drink again with all of the other more flavorful pumpkin ales available these days.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2011 02:43:10 | More by shangwang

Tone

Missouri

3.58/5  rDev +23%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear, copper color. 1/4 inch head of a white color. Slight retention and slight lacing. Smells of sweet malt, pumpkin, spice (all spice?), and slight grain. Fits the style of a Pumpkin Ale. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of pumpkin, slight sweet malt, slight grain, slight pale malt, and spice (all spice). Overall, decent aroma and blend, but the pumpkin is strong and easily discernible.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2011 16:15:36 | More by Tone

phichifiji00

California

3.83/5  rDev +31.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into tulip glass:

Appearance: Orange, thick white head that quickly dissipates, but remains bubbly almost soda-like.

Smell: Spicy, orange peal, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, some earty/spicy notes.

Taste: nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, coriander, a bit light on the pumpkin pie flavor for my tastes.

Mouth: Medium bodied, heavily carbonated.

Overall: One of the better pumpkin beers that I've had to date.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2011 01:42:55 | More by phichifiji00

Burt

Rhode Island

2.68/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Served in a pint glass.

Light amber orange that is hazy, a thin off white head the dispersed quickly, with little lacing.

Light pumpkin and cinnamon.

Light malt sweetness in the beginning, pumpkin in the middle with a light pumpkin spice finish that is thin and watered down.

Not a bad pumpkin beer, just a little light in the flavor.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2011 17:02:31 | More by Burt

rundocrun

Iowa

2.17/5  rDev -25.4%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

A - This beer is a deep amber-to-copper color with a very faint cloudiness to it. Has finger of very coarse white head that fizzes loudly and fades within 10 seconds (much like a glass of coke does). It's obvious from the generous amounts of bubbles coming up from the bottom of the glass that this is a very carbonated beer. Very small amount of lacing on the glass.

S - Smells like somewhat old pumpkin. Almost has a rotted character to it. Ginger and cloves evident.

T - What little pumpkin flavor I get is quickly drowned by cinnamon, cloves and ginger. This is something I've noticed about a lot of pumpkin ales is that they tend to get too heavy-handed with the spices. Faint maltiness in the background with a subtle toasted character. Mild hop bitterness.

M - Medium-to-thin body. Heavily carbonated. Leaves the mouth feeling watery and metallic.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2011 03:54:37 | More by rundocrun

DannyDan

Michigan

3.4/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours out a dark orange with a thin whitehead that quickly disappears leaving no lacing or retention and lots of bubbles going to the top. The smell is by far the best of any pumpkin ale I have tasted. The aroma of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and all-spice makes you look forward to drinking this beer. The taste starts out with some pumpkin and hints of spices, but not much there in the taste. Rather disappointing after such a wonderful aroma from this beer. The mouthfeel is very thin and watery which makes for easy drinking and not much else. Overall this is just an average beer that just doesn't do much for me.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2011 03:08:54 | More by DannyDan

jdanyeur

Oregon

2.13/5  rDev -26.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.5

I cracked open this beer recently and the smell was actually pretty good. it poured an nice orangish-red color. After sipping it, the mouthfeel reminded me of Budweiser or PBR, pretty carbonated and thin. The flavor was almost overwhelmingly sweet to me; they could have used less malt or a some more hops.

Two of my roommates who aren't big beer drinkers actually loved the flavor and said it was a great beer though.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2011 21:33:20 | More by jdanyeur

mattkoon

South Carolina

2.95/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

not a bad beer but a pretty bad pumpkin beer. This beer pours a ok looking cloudy brown. The smell is just a beer smell. There's no spiciness nothing special at all. I expect some sweetness and fall spices but there isn't much goin on here at all. The taste has the same problem. There just isn't enough goin on. This is an average beer ane a below average pumpkin ale. I was really not impressed by this. The only thing pumpkin about this is the one on the label.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2011 22:23:10 | More by mattkoon

jmeyers78

Ohio

3.13/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served from bottle into pint glass

A - Pale amber with thin white head that completely fizzled away after a few minutes. No lacing.

S - Almost smells like a spiced BMC for lack of a more elegant way of stating it. Hardly any malt on the nose.

T - No noticeable malt flavors. Slight spice taste but it fades quickly.

M - Rather thin and fizzy. Probably my least favorite part of this beer.

O - Really a bland beer but it is something that I might pick up if there were no other interesting options.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2011 00:47:41 | More by jmeyers78

Snorlax

Louisiana

3.55/5  rDev +22%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

Just cracked one open, poured into the trusty old double handed Jax mug. Pours a decently pretty and slightly burnt orange color. Rather carbonated. No lacing or head retention really at all. Taste wise I'm impressed and I'll tell you why. Most pumpkin beers are simply filled with pumpkin spices. This beer you can actually noticeably taste the pumpkin juice itself which is quite refreshing, followed by a well balanced after taste of the usual spice suspects. My only complaint is the body and mouthfeel on this one leave MUCH to be desired, though the taste is really quite good. All in all, a great session beer for those chilly fall nights. Bout to go have another out on the porch and enjoy this new found fall weather. Cheers BA brethren.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2011 23:13:13 | More by Snorlax

tlazaroff

Virginia

2.8/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A: It pours out a hazy orange color, not very bright at all, with a tan head that isn't much to speak of. I've seen better, but I've also seen worse.

S: Smells just like a pumpkin pie. I get nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon, pumpkin all in the nose. Smells wonderful.

T: Unfortunately, the taste suffers and doesn't deliver what the nose promises. I get a little bit of pumpkin, some bitterness on the mid palate, but most of all, it just falls flat on all notes.

M: Moderatly-High carbonation with a light body, it feels a bit awkward in the mouth.

D: Drinkability is quite high, if you actually like this beer. It's not terrible, but I probably wouldn't buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2011 00:59:57 | More by tlazaroff

Alkey

Pennsylvania

2.3/5  rDev -21%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured from the bottle a dark orange with no head and millions of tiny bubbles rising to the top and exploding like a soft drink.

Went to smell the aroma and bubbles went up my nose from the aggressive carbonation. After letting it rest a bit I try again but not much there other than a hint of all spice.

Very disappointed with this beers flavor. Almost as if you dumped teaspoons of dry spice in club soda.

Did they mess up the recipe for this batch I wonder. I tried 3 from this case so far and wish I could return it.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2011 13:02:48 | More by Alkey

dcook11

California

3.68/5  rDev +26.5%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Orange. Aggresive carbonation. Dental floss thin head from a violent pour. Some lacing, though not much.

S- Pumpkin. All spice, cinnamon. Balanced and sweet.

T- All the same ingredients as the smell, but more muted.

M- Light bodied with a bite from the carbonation.

O- My favorite pumpkin ale.

Serving type: on-tap

09-03-2011 20:24:30 | More by dcook11